What is a healthy home?

Tips to make a home healthier and to improve
indoor air quality.

The question of what constitutes a healthy home is coming up more frequently now, since a barrage of studies have linked poor indoor air quality and environmental pollutants emitted by household products and building materials to a host of health concerns.

A growing number of North Americans are also affected by asthma or allergies, which are often caused by or aggravated by indoor air pollutants.

Common indoor air contaminants in the home include dust mites and mold, chemicals and gases as well as other irritants.

Here are some tips to make a home healthier:

• Clean regularly. By adhering to a regular cleaning schedule that includes dusting with a wet cloth, vacuuming with a HEPA filter vacuum and wet mopping, it is easier to keep dust and other pollutants under control (especially for young children house dust is a main venue of exposure). However, homeowners should swap their commercial cleaning products with natural or greener alternatives to avoid spreading more harmful chemicals throughout the space.
    
• Choose the right materials. Avoid press-board products that can emit formaldehyde and instead opt for solid wood furniture and bed frames. When painting, choose the low-VOC paints. When it’s time to replace a mattress, go with organic products or natural latex-foam mattresses rather than petroleum-based ones. Organic bed sheets and pillows will reduce exposure to chemicals.
   
• Develop a green thumb. Certain houseplants can help clean the air naturally. Some examples are bamboo and ferns. But don’t overdo it with the plants – too many could throw off the humidity level in the home. If you can't afford to buy all-organic produce, consider composting and tending a small garden in the backyard or on the balcony.
    
• Improve the indoor air quality. The home needs to be properly ventilated and the HVAC system needs to be maintained properly. An easy and inexpensive way to increase ventilation is by opening the windows. When that is not a good option, portable air purifiers with activated carbon and HEPA can help improve the air quality, experts say.
    
• Beware of “green washing”. A lack of regulations and standards makes it easy for companies to make organic or green claims, even for substandard products. Always do your research and opt for certified organic products over others.

Source: Hampton Roads

The right air filters help promote good indoor air quality

A complete air filtration system for the home and office needs many pounds of activated carbon, a HEPA filter and pre-filters as well as UV germicidal filtration (optional).

AllerAir’s portable air purifiers for the home and office feature the most relevant filtration media for virtually any indoor air concern at the most advantageous price, guaranteed.

AllerAir specializes in air purifiers for MCS, allergy and asthma, mold, general purpose and tobacco smoke.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.